Polly-Vous Francais? Megaltra Lumiere Photographic Paper

Ray Rogers · May 10, 2012

Any one have any data on this old French paper?
What were it's properties?
How was it different from the other papers sold by Lumiere?
(eg Lumitra, Elysee, Lumibrom....)

What and when was the fate of that company and when "fate" happen?

What do these French terms mean in relation to photographic papers?
mince excl.
cart. excl.

(cart. = cartoline ???) but
Cartoline = ???

Thanks

Ray

Raphael · May 10, 2012

Parlez-vous français ? Yes I can

Hello Ray,

Ray Rogers said:
Any one have any data on this old French paper?
What were it's properties?
How was it different from the other papers sold by Lumiere?
(eg Lumitra, Elysee, Lumibrom....)

Not informed enough about these old papers to help you, sorry !

What and when was the fate of that company and when "fate" happen?

To resume what I read Lumiere was taken over by Cegy, in 50' (Yes, THE CIBA-Cegy of Cibachrome) and later become Ilford France, in 1982.
Here is a link (in English !, outstanding site, BTW) on Lumiere history : http://www.autochromes.culture.fr/index.php?id=137&L=1

What do these French terms mean in relation to photographic papers?
mince excl.

mince = thin, but "excl." is rather obscure, what is context ?

cart. excl.

(cart. = cartoline ???) but
Cartoline = ???

I am rather embarassed to give a good definition in English : I believe it's sort a small thin cardboard, or rigid paper, like "Bristol" paper (I don't even know if this term applied to paper is understood in US/UK !)
So the support for this paper is somewhat rigid.

Regards,

Raphael
P.S : "Polly-vous" for "Parlez-vous" is funny, indeed

Steve Smith · May 10, 2012

Raphael said:
I believe it's sort a small thin cardboard, or rigid paper, like "Bristol" paper (I don't even know if this term applied to paper is understood in US/UK !)

Bristol card (or paper) is an un-coated card which took it's name from Bristol in the UK where it was originally made - So yes, it is understood here!

Steve.

Raphael · May 10, 2012

Hi Steve,

Steve Smith said:
Bristol card (or paper) is an un-coated card which took it's name from Bristol in the UK where it was originally made - So yes, it is understood here!

Steve.

Thanks for the clarification, Steve ! Of course, I think about Bristol in UK, but cannot be sure if it was that kind of idiomatic expression, where a same thing is called with two antagonist expression this side of the Channel or the other ! One of my prefered, is "filer a l'anglaise" which in English is translated : "to take the French leave"

Of course, I wouldn't talk about the French town of Condom...

Lionel1972 · May 10, 2012

Hey Ray! Nice to see you, it's been a while.
Sorry for my long silence, I've had stuff going on and some health issues to sort out also.
Hope you're doing well.
Will e-mail soon.

Best,
Lionel.

Ray Rogers said:
Any one have any data on this old French paper?
What were it's properties?
How was it different from the other papers sold by Lumiere?
(eg Lumitra, Elysee, Lumibrom....)

What and when was the fate of that company and when "fate" happen?

What do these French terms mean in relation to photographic papers?
mince excl.
cart. excl.

(cart. = cartoline ???) but
Cartoline = ???

Thanks

Ray

Jerevan · May 10, 2012

I have no answers, but maybe the fellow who wrote this article, http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/AntiqueP/antiquep.html might have a clue? Somewhere in the back of my head, I think he might have posted on here in the past.

Ray Rogers · May 10, 2012

Raphael said:
Hello Ray,

Not informed enough about these old papers to help you, sorry !
mince = thin, but "excl." is rather obscure, what is context ?

P.S : "Polly-vous" for "Parlez-vous" is funny, indeed

Raphael、
I kept thinking of the relationship between Pirates and birds and our saying "Poly wanna cracker"....
I think the "excl." means exclusively as in that is the only form it is made and sold in.
(But that might might be my English language wired brain speaking....)

What I hope we can find is someone who has a guide book for French paper, or has some old ads or instruction sheets handy.

Ray

Ray Rogers · May 10, 2012

Raphael said:
Of course, I wouldn't talk about the French town of Condom...

Really? There is such a town? Is it related to... the obvious?
If so they can be very proud of their namesake's contribution to the history of medical photgraphy!

Ray Rogers · May 10, 2012

Lionel1972 said:
Hey Ray! Nice to see you, it's been a while.
Sorry for my long silence, I've had stuff going on and some health issues to sort out also.
Hope you're doing well.
Will e-mail soon.

Best,
Lionel.

Lionel, it is so nice to hear from you again.
I too have been down for a while... I am not actually "back" yet; maybe by this Fall...

looking forward to that email...

Ray

Ray Rogers · May 10, 2012

Jerevan,

Yes, thanks for reminding me - I do not recall him posting here but I probably still have his email. the last time I was looking at his work he had moved. Good suggestion.

I wonder if anyone near the French equivalent of GEH... forgot their FRENCH name... (isn't eaiser to forget words & names in a foreign language than in one's native tounge?!)... knows someone there who can take questions on French Photographic issues, in English?

While we are on the topic, lets see if I can learn the name of that French institution...

What was it's name?

(Please Say it more SLOWLY)

Ray Rogers · May 10, 2012

I quickly went through Yurow's list and only 1 paper from Lumiere is mentioned and it appears to be misspelled.
(Lugla should be Lugda ?)

Anyhow, I think the French Photographic organization I can't remember
the name of/cannot pronounce, would be a good door to knock on.

Or is there a French sector APUG? Maybe posting there would do the trick.

Ray

Jerevan · May 10, 2012

Ray,

you could check the french section - maybe someone there can give you more help. I was thinking along the lines that Yurow might have more info on his hands that he had not had time to share on the 'net. I love this detective work with older papers, finding out new things about old stuff...

Someone mentions the name Megaltra on this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/francoisthomas/6471439885/

Ray Rogers · May 11, 2012

Jerevan said:
Ray,

you could check the french section - maybe someone there can give you more help. I was thinking along the lines that Yurow might have more info on his hands that he had not had time to share on the 'net. I love this detective work with older papers, finding out new things about old stuff...

Someone mentions the name Megaltra on this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/francoisthomas/6471439885/

Thanks Jerevan.
I will look into that.

I see the flickr poster might have some info, but I cannot figure out how to contact him without joining myself
which I do not want to do.

I might try the other suggestion...
I have never been there. Is there a French only rule?

Ray

Raphael · May 23, 2012

Hi Ray,

Sorry, it's a little late for reviving this thread.

Ray Rogers said:
Raphael、
I kept thinking of the relationship between Pirates and birds and our saying "Poly wanna cracker"....
I think the "excl." means exclusively as in that is the only form it is made and sold in.
(But that might might be my English language wired brain speaking....)

Thanks for the joke complete explanation Remind me a little the ITLAPD (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day) !

What I hope we can find is someone who has a guide book for French paper, or has some old ads or instruction sheets handy.

Ray

I regret now truly to have sell (for a friend), a nice "Agenda Lumière" book from 1930's where we can surely find information about your paper.
But I just got a bunch of old french photo books, maybe i will get some hints about Megaltra.

Stay tunned,

Best regards,

Raphael

Raphael · May 23, 2012

Ray Rogers said:
I quickly went through Yurow's list and only 1 paper from Lumiere is mentioned and it appears to be misspelled.
(Lugla should be Lugda ?)

Maybe in fact, it's "Jougla", and in this case, it's not a paper name, but once the name of the company : "Lumière-Jougla"

Regards,

Raphael

Ray Rogers · May 23, 2012

Thanks Raphael...

So far the question has not been answered.
I feel sure that there are books about these French papers.
Just have to look in the right pace.

Best wishes & good luck on finding techncal info/ data sheets/ inserts
for any of these papers.

Ray

Ray Rogers · May 23, 2012

Re: Maybe in fact, it's "Jougla", and in this case, it's not a paper name, but once the name of the company : "Lumière-Jougla"

Hummm,
Maybe... but there is a "Lugda" paper.
and, one letter is easier to get wrong than 2.

But you never know.

Regards,

Ray

Raphael · Aug 19, 2012

Found a few bit of info

Hi Ray,

I don't know if you are around for now, and still need information about Megaltra paper, but at last I found an advertising in an old French photo book (Photo Almanach Prisma 1949).

Here is a scan of the ad :

So, only two (useful ?) information :
- It's a Chloro-bromure warm tone paper
- Introduced in 1949 !

I don't provide a full English translation, as the rest of paragraph is mainly commercial, but we can summarize it as this "Ideal for portrait" .

Hope this, at last, helps !

Regards

Raphael

Polly-Vous Francais? Megaltra Lumiere Photographic Paper

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